Halaguea v. PAL

THIRD DIVISION PATRICIA HALAGUEA, MA. G.R. No. &'()&* ANGELITA L. PULIDO, MA. TERESITA P. SANTIAGO, Pe%ent+ MARIANNE V. KATINDIG, BERNADETTE A. CABALQUINTO, YNARES-SANTIAGO, J  YNARES-SANTIAGO,  J ., ., LORNA B. TUGAS, MARY Chairperson, CHRISTINE A. VILLARETE, CHICO-NAZARIO, CYNTHIA CYNTHIA A. STEH STEHMEIER MEIER,, ROSE ROSE VELASCO, JR., ANNA G. VICTA, NOEMI R.  NACHURA, nd CRESENCIO, and othe !"#$ht PERALTA, JJ. PERALTA, JJ. attendant% o! PHILIPPINE AIRLINES, Petitioners ,

- versus -

PHILIPPINE INCORPORATED,

AIRLINES Po-"$ated+

Respondent. Oto/e (, ())0 !--------------------------------------------------!

DECISION PERALTA, J.: PERALTA, J.:

"e#ore t$is Co%rt is  petition #or re&ie' on certiorari %nde certiorari %nderr R%(e )* o# t$e R%(es o# Co%rt see+in to nn%( nd set side t$e eision /01 nd t$e Reso(%tion /21 o# t$e Co%rt o# Appe(s 3CA4 in CA-G.R. SP. No. 56507. Petitioners 'ere e8p(o9ed s #e8(e #(i$t ttendnts o# respondent P$i(ippine Air(ines 3PAL4 on di##erent dtes prior to No&e8:er 22, 0;;6. T$e9 re 8e8:ers o# t$e <(i$t Attendnts nd Ste'rds Assoition o# t$e P$i(ippines 3
e!(%si&e :rinin representti&e o# t$e #(i$t ttendnts, #(i$t ste'rds nd  p%rsers o# respondent. On J%(9 00, 2>>0, respondent nd >> to 2>>*, $erein#ter re#erred to s PAL-4 #or 8(es. ! ! !.

In  (etter dted J%(9 22, 2>>7, /)1 petitioners nd se&er( #e8(e :in re's 8ni#ested t$t t$e #ore8entioned C"A pro&ision on o8p%(sor9 retire8ent is disri8intor9, nd de8nded #or n e%( tret8ent 'it$ t$eir 8(e o%nterprts. T$is de8nd 's reiterted in  (etter /*1 :9 petitionersB o%nse( ddressed to respondent de8ndin t$e re8o&( o# ender disri8intion pro&isions in t$e o8in re-neotitions o# t$e PAL->), Ro:ert . And%i=, President o# >)2>>* C"A propos(s /61 nd 8ni#ested t$eir 'i((inness to o88ene t$e o((eti&e :rinin neotitions :et'een t$e 8ne8ent nd t$e ssoition, t t$e soonest possi:(e ti8e. On J%(9 2;, 2>>), petitioners #i(ed  Spei( Ci&i( Ation #or e(rtor9 Re(ie#  'it$ Pr9er #or t$e Iss%ne o# Te8porr9 Restrinin Order nd rit o#  Pre(i8inr9 In@%ntion /D1 'it$ t$e Reion( Tri( Co%rt 3RTC4 o# +ti Cit9,

"rn$ 0)D, do+eted s Ci&i( Cse No. >)-556, inst respondent #or t$e in&(idit9 o# Setion 0)), Prt A o# t$e PAL->), t$e RTC iss%ed n Order /51 %p$o(din its @%risdition o&er t$e  present se. T$e RTC resoned t$t? In t$e instnt se, t$e t$r%st o# t$e Petition is Se. 0)) o# t$e s%:@et C"A '$i$ is ((eed(9 disri8intor9 s it disri8intes inst #e8(e #(i$t ttendnts, in &io(tion o# t$e Constit%tion, t$e L:or Code, nd t$e CEA. T$e ((etions in t$e Petition do not 8+e o%t  (:or disp%te risin #ro8 e8p(o9er-e8p(o9ee re(tions$ip s none is s$o'n to e!ist. T$is se is not direted spei#i((9 inst respondent risin #ro8 n9 t o# t$e (tter, nor does it in&o(&e  (i8 inst t$e respondent. Rt$er, t$is se see+s  de(rtion o# t$e n%((it9 o# t$e %estioned pro&ision o# t$e C"A, '$i$ is 'it$in t$e Co%rtBs o8petene, 'it$ t$e ((etions in t$e Petition onstit%tin t$e :ses #or s%$ re(ie# so%$t.

T$e RTC iss%ed  TRO on A%%st 0>, 2>>), /;1 en@oinin t$e respondent #or  i8p(e8entin Setion 0)), Prt A o# t$e PAL-1 see+in reonsidertion o# t$e order  o&err%(in its o:@etion to t$e @%risdition o# t$e RTC t$e (i#tin o# t$e TRO. It #%rt$er pr9ed t$t t$e 304 petitionersB pp(ition #or t$e iss%ne o#  'rit o#   pre(i8inr9 in@%ntion :e deniedF nd 324 t$e petition :e dis8issed or t$e  proeedins in t$is se :e s%spended. On Septe8:er 2D, 2>>), t$e RTC iss%ed n Order /001 diretin t$e iss%ne o#  'rit o# pre(i8inr9 in@%ntion en@oinin t$e respondent or n9 o# its ents nd representti&es #ro8 #%rt$er i8p(e8entin Se. 0)), Prt A o# t$e PAL-
Arie&ed, respondent, on Oto:er 5, 2>>), #i(ed  Petition #or Certiorri nd Pro$i:ition 'it$ Pr9er #or  Te8porr9 Restrinin Order nd rit o# Pre(i8inr9 In@%ntion/021 'it$ t$e Co%rt o# Appe(s 3CA4 pr9in t$t t$e order o# t$e RTC, '$i$ denied its o:@etion to its @%risdition, :e nn%(ed nd set side #or $&in  :een iss%ed 'it$o%t ndor 'it$ r&e :%se o# disretion 8o%ntin to (+ o#   @%risdition. T$e CA rendered  eision, dted A%%st 70, 2>>*, rntin t$e respondentBs  petition, nd r%(ed t$t? HERE)-556. SO ORERE.

Petitioner #i(ed  8otion #or reonsidertion, /071 '$i$ 's denied :9 t$e CA in its Reso(%tion dted r$ D, 2>>6. Hene, t$e instnt petition ssinin t$e #o((o'in error? THE COURT O< APPEALSB CONCLUSION THAT THE SU"JECT ATTER  IS A LA"OR ISPUTE OR GRIEVANCE IS CONTRARY TO LA AN JURISPRUENCE.

T$e 8in iss%e in t$is se is '$et$er t$e RTC $s @%risdition o&er t$e petitionersB tion $((enin t$e (e(it9 or onstit%tion(it9 o# t$e pro&isions on t$e o8p%(sor9 retire8ent e ontined in t$e C"A :et'een respondent PAL nd
ontro&ersies e!ept t$ose e!press(9 'it$e(d #ro8 t$e p(enr9 po'ers o# t$e o%rt. Aordin(9, it $s t$e po'er to deide iss%es o# onstit%tion(it9 or (e(it9 o# t$e  pro&isions o# Setion 0)), Prt A o# t$e PAL-
2). Petitioners $&e t$e onstit%tion( ri$t to #%nd8ent( e%(it9 'it$ 8en %nder Setion 0), Arti(e II, 0;5D o# t$e Constit%tion nd, 'it$in t$e spei#i onte!t o# t$is se, 'it$ t$e 8(e :in ttendnts o# P$i(ippine Air(ines. 26. Petitioners $&e t$e stt%tor9 ri$t to e%( 'or+ nd e8p(o98ent opport%nities 'it$ 8en %nder Arti(e 7, Presidenti( eree No. ))2, T$e L:or  Code nd, 'it$in t$e spei#i onte!t o# t$is se, 'it$ t$e 8(e :in ttendnts o# P$i(ippine Air(ines. 2D. It is %n('#%(, e&en ri8in(, #or n e8p(o9er to disri8inte inst 'o8en e8p(o9ees 'it$ respet to ter8s nd onditions o# e8p(o98ent so(e(9 on o%nt o# t$eir se! %nder Arti(e 07* o# t$e L:or Code s 8ended :9 Rep%:(i At No. 6D2* or t$e At Strent$enin Pro$i:ition on isri8intion Ainst o8en. 25. T$is disri8intion inst Petitioners is (i+e'ise inst t$e Con&ention on t$e E(i8intion o# A(( >>-2>>>* C"A on o8p%(sor9 retire8ent #ro8 ser&ie is in&idio%s(9 disri8intor9 inst nd 8ni#est(9  pre@%dii( to Petitioners :e%se, t$e9 re o8pe((ed to retire t  (o'er e 3#i#t9-#i&e 3**4 re(ti&e to t$eir 8(e o%nterprts 3si!t9 36>4. 77. T$ere is no reson:(e, 8%$ (ess ('#%(, :sis #or P$i(ippine Air(ines to distin%is$, di##erentite or (ssi#9 :in ttendnts on t$e :sis o# se! nd t$ere:9 r:itrri(9 set  (o'er o8p%(sor9 retire8ent e o# ** #or Petitioners #or  t$e so(e reson t$t t$e9 re 'o8en. 7D. >>-2>>* C"A 8%st :e de(red in&(id nd stri+en do'n to t$e e!tent t$t it disri8intes inst petitioner. 75. Aordin(9, onsistent 'it$ t$e onstit%tion( nd stt%tor9 %rntee o#  e%(it9 :et'een 8en nd 'o8en, Petitioners s$o%(d :e d@%ded nd de(red entit(ed, (i+e t$eir 8(e o%nterprts, to 'or+ %nti( t$e9 re si!t9 36>4 9ers o(d. PRAYER  HERE
. #ter tri( on t$e 8erits? 3I4

de(re Setion 00), Prt A o# t$e PAL->>-2>>* C"A INVALI, NULL nd VOI to t$e e!tent t$t it disri8intes inst PetitionersF ! ! ! !

)-556 is t$e nn%(8ent o# Setion 0)), Prt A o# t$e PAL-
nd t$e po'er to pp(9 nd interpret t$e onstit%tion nd CEA is 'it$in t$e

 @%risdition o# tri( o%rts,  o%rt o# ener( @%risdition. In Georg Grotjahn GMBH & Co. v. Isnani,/0D1 t$is Co%rt $e(d t$t not e&er9 disp%te :et'een n e8p(o9er nd e8p(o9ee in&o(&es 8tters t$t on(9 (:or r:iters nd t$e NLRC n reso(&e in t$e e!erise o# t$eir d@%ditor9 or %si-@%dii( po'ers. T$e  @%risdition o# (:or r:iters nd t$e NLRC %nder Arti(e 20D o# t$e L:or Code is (i8ited to disp%tes risin #ro8 n e8p(o9er-e8p(o9ee re(tions$ip '$i$ can only be resolved by reerence to the !abor Code, other labor statutes, or their collective bargaining agree"ent .  Not e&er9 ontro&ers9 or 8one9 (i8 :9 n e8p(o9ee inst t$e e8p(o9er or  &ie-&ers is 'it$in t$e e!(%si&e @%risdition o# t$e (:or r:iter. Ations :et'een e8p(o9ees nd e8p(o9er '$ere t$e e8p(o9er-e8p(o9ee re(tions$ip is 8ere(9

inident( nd t$e %se o# tion preedes #ro8  di##erent so%re o# o:(ition is 'it$in t$e e!(%si&e @%risdition o# t$e re%(r o%rt. /051 Here, t$e e8p(o9ere8p(o9ee re(tions$ip :et'een t$e prties is 8ere(9 inident( nd t$e %se o#  tion %(ti8te(9 rose #ro8 di##erent so%res o# o:(ition , i.e., t$e Constit%tion nd CEA. T$%s, '$ere t$e prinip( re(ie# so%$t is to :e reso(&ed not :9 re#erene to t$e L:or Code or ot$er (:or re(tions stt%te or  o((eti&e :rinin ree8ent :%t  :9 t$e ener( i&i( (', t$e @%risdition o&er t$e disp%te :e(ons to t$e re%(r  o%rts o# @%stie nd not to t$e (:or r:iter nd t$e NLRC. In s%$ sit%tions, reso(%tion o# t$e disp%te re%ires e!pertise, not in (:or 8ne8ent re(tions nor  in 'e str%t%res nd ot$er ter8s nd onditions o# e8p(o98ent, :%t rt$er in t$e pp(ition o# t$e ener( i&i( ('. C(er(9, s%$ (i8s #(( o%tside t$e re o#  o8petene or e!pertise ordinri(9 sri:ed to (:or r:iters nd t$e NLRC nd t$e rtion(e #or rntin @%risdition o&er s%$ (i8s to t$ese enies disppers. /0;1 I# e di&est t$e re%(r o%rts o# @%risdition o&er t$e se, t$en '$i$ tri:%n( or  #or%8 s$(( deter8ine t$e onstit%tion(it9 or (e(it9 o# t$e ssi(ed C"A  pro&ision T$is Co%rt $o(ds t$t t$e rie&ne 8$iner9 nd &o(%ntr9 r:itrtors do not $&e t$e po'er to deter8ine nd sett(e t$e iss%es t $nd. T$e9 $&e no  @%risdition nd o8petene to deide onstit%tion( iss%es re(ti&e to t$e %estioned o8p%(sor9 retire8ent e. T$eir e!erise o# @%risdition is #%ti(e, s it is (i+e &estin po'er to so8eone '$o nnot 'ie(d it. In Gon#ales v. Cli"a$ Mining !td. ,/2>1 t$is Co%rt ##ir8ed t$e @%risdition o# o%rts o&er %estions on onstit%tion(it9 o# ontrts, s t$e s8e in&o(&es t$e e!erise o# @%dii( po'er. T$e Co%rt sid?

$et$er t$e se in&o(&es &oid or &oid:(e ontrts is sti((  @%dii( %estion. It 89, in so8e instnes, in&o(&e %estions o# #t espei((9 'it$ rerd to t$e deter8intion o# t$e ir%8stnes o# t$e e!e%tion o# t$e ontrts. "%t t$e reso(%tion o# t$e &(idit9 or &oidness o# t$e ontrts re8ins  (e( or @%dii( %estion s it re%ires t$e e!erise o# @%dii( #%ntion. It re%ires t$e sertin8ent o# '$t ('s re pp(i:(e to t$e disp%te, t$e interprettion nd pp(ition o# t$ose ('s, nd t$e renderin o#  @%d8ent :sed t$ereon. C(er(9, t$e disp%te is not  8inin on#(it. It is essenti((9 @%dii(. T$e o8p(int 's not 8ere(9 #or t$e deter8intion o# ri$ts %nder t$e 8inin ontrts sine t$e &er9 &(idit9 o# t$ose ontrts is p%t in iss%e.

In %aura v. %aura, Jr.,/201 t$is Co%rt e8p$si=ed t$e pri89 o# t$e re%(r o%rtBs  @%dii( po'er ens$rined in t$e Constit%tion t$t is tr%e t$t t$e trend is to'rds &estin d8inistrti&e :odies (i+e t$e SEC 'it$ t$e po'er to d@%dite 8tters o8in %nder t$eir prti%(r spei(i=tion, to ins%re  8ore +no'(ede:(e so(%tion o# t$e pro:(e8s s%:8itted to t$e8.

T$is 'o%(d (so re(ie&e t$e

re%(r o%rts o#  s%:stnti( n%8:er o# ses t$t 'o%(d ot$er'ise s'e(( t$eir  (red9 (oed do+ets.  But as expedient as this policy may be, it should not  deprive the courts of justice of their power to decide ordinary cases in accordance with the general laws that do not require any particular expertise or  training to interpret and apply. Otherwise, the creeping tae!over by the administrative agencies of the judicial power vested in the courts would render  the judiciary virtually impotent in the discharge of the duties assigned to it by the "onstitution.

To :e s%re, in ivera v. 'spiritu,/221 #ter P$i(ippine Air(ines 3PAL4 nd PAL E8p(o9ees Assoition 3PALEA4 entered into n ree8ent, '$i$ in(%des t$e  pro&ision to s%spend t$e PAL-PALEA C"A #or 0> 9ers, se&er( e8p(o9ees %estioned its &(idit9 &i  petition #or ertiorri diret(9 to t$e S%pre8e Co%rt. T$e9 sid t$t t$e s%spension 's %nonstit%tion( nd ontrr9 to p%:(i po(i9. Petitioners s%:8it t$t t$e s%spension 's inordinte(9 (on, '9 :e9ond t$e 8!i8%8 stt%tor9 (i#e o# * 9ers #or  C"A pro&ided #or in Arti(e 2*7-A o# t$e L:or Code. "9 reein to  0>-9er s%spension, PALEA, in e##et, :dited t$e 'or+ersB onstit%tion( ri$t to :rin #or not$er C"A t t$e 8ndted ti8e.

In t$t se, t$is Co%rt denied t$e petition #or ertiorri, r%(in t$t t$ere is &i(:(e to petitioners  p(in, speed9, nd de%te re8ed9 in t$e ordinr9 o%rse o# ('. T$e Co%rt sid t$t '$i(e t$e petition 's deno8inted s one #or ertiorri nd pro$i:ition, its o:@et 's t%((9 t$e n%((i#ition o# t$e PAL-PALEA ree8ent. As s%$, petitionersB proper re8ed9 is n ordinr9 i&i( tion #or  nn%(8ent o# ontrt, n tion '$i$ proper(9 #((s %nder t$e @%risdition o# t$e reion( tri( o%rts. T$e $ne in t$e ter8s nd onditions o# e8p(o98ent, s$o%(d Setion 0)) o# t$e C"A :e $e(d in&(id, is :%t  neessr9 nd %n&oid:(e onse%ene o# t$e  prinip( re(ie# so%$t, i.e., n%((i#ition o# t$e ((eed disri8intor9 pro&ision in t$e C"A. T$%s, it does not neessri(9 #o((o' t$t  reso(%tion o# ontro&ers9 t$t 'o%(d :rin :o%t  $ne in t$e ter8s nd onditions o# e8p(o98ent is  (:or  disp%te, oni=:(e :9 (:or tri:%n(s. It is %n#ir to pre(%de petitioners #ro8 in&o+in t$e tri( o%rtBs @%risdition 8ere(9 :e%se it 89 e&ent%((9 res%(t into  $ne o# t$e ter8s nd onditions o# e8p(o98ent. A(on t$t (ine, t$e tri( o%rt is not s+ed to set nd #i! t$e ter8s nd onditions o# e8p(o98ent, :%t is ((ed %pon to deter8ine '$et$er C"A is onsistent 'it$ t$e ('s. A(t$o%$ t$e C"A pro&ides #or  proed%re #or t$e d@%st8ent o# rie&nes, s%$ re#err( to t$e rie&ne 8$iner9 nd t$ere#ter to &o(%ntr9 r:itrtion 'o%(d :e inpproprite to t$e petitioners, :e%se t$e %nion nd t$e 8ne8ent $&e %nni8o%s(9 reed to t$e ter8s o# t$e C"A nd t$eir interest is %ni#ied. In (antranco )orth '$press, Inc., v. )!C, /271 t$is Co%rt $e(d t$t? ! ! ! Hene, on(9 disp%tes in&o(&in t$e %nion nd t$e o8pn9 s$(( :e re#erred to t$e rie&ne 8$iner9 or &o(%ntr9 r:itrtors. In t$e instnt se, :ot$ t$e %nion nd t$e o8pn9 re %nited or $&e o8e to n ree8ent rerdin t$e dis8iss( o# pri&te respondents. No rie&ne :et'een t$e8 e!ists '$i$ o%(d :e :ro%$t to  rie&ne 8$iner9. T$e pro:(e8 or  disp%te in t$e present se is :et'een t$e %nion nd t$e o8pn9 on t$e one $nd nd so8e %nion nd non-%nion 8e8:ers '$o 'ere dis8issed, on t$e ot$er $nd.

T$e disp%te $s to :e sett(ed :e#ore n i8prti( :od9. T$e rie&ne 8$iner9 'it$ 8e8:ers desinted :9 t$e %nion nd t$e o8pn9 nnot :e e!peted to :e i8prti( inst t$e dis8issed e8p(o9ees. %e proess de8nds t$t t$e dis8issed 'or+ers rie&nes :e &enti(ted :e#ore n i8prti( :od9. ! ! ! . App(9in t$e s8e rtion(e to t$e se t :r, it nnot :e sid t$t t$e disp%te is :et'een t$e %nion nd petitioner o8pn9 :e%se :ot$ $&e pre&io%s(9 reed %pon t$e pro&ision on o8p%(sor9 retire8ent s e8:odied in t$e C"A. A(so, it 's on(9 pri&te respondent on $is o'n '$o %estioned t$e o8p%(sor9 retire8ent. ! ! !.

In t$e s8e &ein, t$e disp%te in t$e se t :r is not :et'een >), ddressed to PAL, s%:8itted its ssoitionBs :rinin propos( #or t$e re8inin period o# 2>>)-2>>* o# t$e PAL-
22, 0;;6. it$o%t 6, o# o%r Ci&i( Code is t$t t$e ontrtin prties 89 est:(is$ s%$ stip%(tions s t$e9 89 dee8 on&enient, pro&ided t$e9 re not ontrr9 to (', 8or(s, ood %sto8s, p%:(i order or p%:(i po(i9. T$%s, o%nter-:(nin t$e prinip(e o# %tono89 o# ontrtin prties is t$e e%((9 ener( r%(e t$t pro&isions o# pp(i:(e (', espei((9 pro&isions re(tin to 8tters ##eted 'it$ p%:(i po(i9, re dee8ed 'ritten into t$e ontrt. P%t  (itt(e di##erent(9, t$e o&ernin prinip(e is t$t prties 89 not ontrt '9 pp(i:(e pro&isions o# (' espei((9 pere8ptor9 pro&isions de(in 'it$ 8tters $e&i(9 i8pressed 'it$ p%:(i interest. T$e (' re(tin to (:or nd e8p(o98ent is (er(9 s%$ n re nd prties re not t (i:ert9 to ins%(te t$e8se(&es nd t$eir re(tions$ips #ro8 t$e i8pt o# (:or ('s nd re%(tions  :9 si8p(9 ontrtin 'it$ e$ ot$er.

oreo&er, t$e re(tions :et'een pit( nd (:or re not 8ere(9 ontrt%(. T$e9 re so i8pressed 'it$ p%:(i interest t$t (:or ontrts 8%st 9ie(d to t$e o88on ood.! ! !

/261

 T$e s%pre89 o# t$e (' o&er ontrts is e!p(ined :9 t$e #t t$t

(:or ontrts re not ordinr9 ontrtsF t$ese re i8:%ed 'it$ p%:(i interest nd t$ere#ore re s%:@et to t$e po(ie po'er o# t$e stte. /2D1 It s$o%(d not :e t+en to 8en t$t retire8ent pro&isions reed %pon in t$e C"A re :so(%te(9 :e9ond t$e 8:it o# @%dii( re&ie' nd n%((i#ition. A C"A, s  (:or ontrt, is not 8ere(9 ontrt%( in nt%re :%t i8pressed 'it$ p%:(i interest. I# t$e retire8ent  pro&isions in t$e C"A r%n ontrr9 to (', p%:(i 8or(s, or p%:(i po(i9, s%$  pro&isions 89 &er9 'e(( :e &oided. /251
T$e %estion s to '$et$er sid Setion 00), Prt A o# t$e PAL-
1HERE2ORE, t$e petition is PARTLY GRANTED. T$e eision nd

Reso(%tion o# t$e Co%rt o# Appe(s, dted A%%st 70, 2>>* nd r$ D, 2>>6, respeti&e(9, in CA-G.R. SP. No. 56507 re REVERSED nd SET ASIDE. T$e Reion( Tri( Co%rt o# +ti Cit9, "rn$ 0)D is DIRECTED to ontin%e t$e  proeedins in Ci&i( Cse No. >)-556 'it$ de(i:erte dispt$. SO ORDERED.